Internal-combustion engine



N. B. ROBBINS.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l0. 191a.

Patented Dee. 9,1919.

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N. B. ROBBINS.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10 I918.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET M a To M M m attotnet a N. B. ROBBINS.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 191B.

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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wi/Imcoo dttolnn o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NOVA B. ROBBINS, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND J'. GRANT AMBROSE, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed lnay 10, 1918. Serial No. 233,700.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NOVA B. ROBBINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented a new and use ful Internal-Combustion Engine, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is an internal combustion engine, and one object of the invention is to provide novel means forcompressing the explosive mixture and delivering the same into the intermediate portion of a. cylinder, between two pistons mounted to reciprocate in the cylinder.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an internal combustion engine, novel means whereby a plurality of cylinders may be grouped around a central shaft, the pistons in the cylinders being operatively connected with the central shaft in a novel way.

A further object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine wherein the crank shafts may be short, the stress in the crank shafts being reduced as compared with the stress existing in multiple-cylinder engines of usual construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine wherein the torque will be cut down, the construction being such that the engine may be driven at high speed without appreciable or obj ectionable vibration.

It is another object of the invention to provide an internal combustion engine which will be eflicient in operation, light in weight and economical in fuel consumption.

It is within the proyice of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to whichthe present invention appertains.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of What is claimed, without de arting from the spirit of the invention.

n the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, showing a portion of an internal combustion engineconstructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away and distant parts being omitted in the view;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line-'2-2 of Fig. 1, distant parts being omitted, the line 11 in Fig. 2 indicating approximately the cutting plane on which Fig. 1 is taken;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the engine.

Fig. 1 is a cross section showing the mounting of the valve stem.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing a modification.

The engine forming the subject matter of this application includes crankcase rings 1 and 2 embodying inwardly extended reduced extensions 3, the rings 1 and 2 being provided on their inner sides with nipples 16. Cover plates 4 are secured removably to the peripheries of the crank case rings 1 and Gear cases 6 are disposed within the rings 1 and 2 and cooperate with the extensions 3, the gear cases having bearings 7 complemental to bearings 5 in' the extensions 3 of the crank case rings. The gear cases 6 include inner end walls Shaving seats 9 in which are located bearings 10 held in place by retaining rings 11. The gear cases Gembody outer end plates 12 which are removable. the end plates 12 carrying removable rings ll cooperating with bearings 15 in the end plates, the bearings 15 being compleniental to the bearings 10. I

The invention comprises any desired munber of cylinders 17 which may include water jackets 18 if desired. The cylinders 17 are interchangeable and a cylinder can be replaced when worn or scored.

The cylinders 17 are disposed between the crank case rings 1 and 2 and are secured thereto as indicated at 20.

Each cylinder 17 has intake ports 21 and 22 and is provided with exhaust ports 23 and 24, the ports 23 and'24 being located between the ports 21 and 22. With the inner side of each cylinder is assembled a T casing 25 having a seat 26 with which cooperates a valve 27 including a stem 28 mounted to Slide in a boss 29, constituting a. part of the casing 25, and mounted to sllde in a cap 30 on the casing, The caslng 25 and the boss 29 are supplied with a recess 31 in which is located a compression spring 32, abutting-at one end against the boss, and engaged at its other end with an abutment 33 on the valve stem 28. In general, however, any suitable sprmg means may be pro vided for holding the valve 27 normally closed. A roller 34 is journaled on the outer end of the valve stem 37 and coacts with a cam disk 47, hereinafter described in detail. In order that the roller 34 may coact properly with the cam disk 47, the stem 28 of the valve 27 should not rotate, and in order to prevent a rotation of thevalve stem, the valve stem may be connected with the boss 29 of the casing 25 for right-line movement by means of a key 35. Pipes 36 connect the nipples 16 with the ends of the casing 25. The nipples 16, the pipes 36 and the T casing 35 constitute a conduit, opening at its ends into the crank cases 1 and 2, and opening, intermediate its ends, into the cylinder 17.

In each cylinder 17 there operates a pair of pistons 37'pivoted at 38 t0 pitmen 39 operatively connected with cranks 4O constituting parts of shafts 41 journaled in the bearings 5 and 7. Secured to the inner ends of shafts 41 are pinions 42 located in the gear cases 6 and meshing into gear wheels 43 supported on shoulders 44 formed on a main shaft 45 and held by retainers 46 on the main shaft. The main shaft 45 is journaled in the bearings 10 and 15, the cylinders 17 being arranged about the main shaft. Secured to the main shaft 45, intermediate its ends, is the cam disk 47 hereinbefore mentioned, the same being held on the shaft by securing means 48 which may include a key 49. The disk 47 is provided with cams adapted to coact with the rollers 34 on valve stems 28L In practical operations, when the pistons 37 move toward each other, the intake ports 21 and 22 are opened and the exhaust ports 23 and 24 are closed. The explosive mixture enters the cylinders 17 by way of the ports 21 and 22 and passes through the ends of the cylinders 17 into the crank cases 1 and 2. When the pistons 37 haveapproached each other to a sufficient extent, the charge delivered as hereinafter described between the pistons, is exploded by any suitable means (not shown). The pistons 37 move apart, closing the intake ports 21 and 22 and opening the exhaustports 24. The charges are compressed in the crank cases 1 and 2 and pass by way of the pipes 36 into the T casing 25. The cams 50 on the disk 47 actuate the stems 28 and open the valves 27. The parts are shown thus arranged in Fig. 1. The compressed explosive mixture passes into the cylinders 17 between the pistons 37 and scours out the exploded charge through the ports 23 and 24,.which are now open. .VVhen the pistons 37 move toward each other, the cams 50 on the disk 47 ride off the rollers 34 on the valve stems 28, the valves 27 are closed by the action of the springs 32 or their equivalents, and the cycle above described is repeated.

Having thus described the invention, what.

is claimed is 1. In an internal combustion englne, a cyl- "inder; crank cases at the ends of the cylinder; pistons mounted to. reciprocate in the cylinder, the cylinder being provided adjacentits ends with intake and exhaust ports controlled by the pistons, the exhaust ports being opened when the pistons are retracted, and the intake ports being opened to establish communication with the crank cases by way of the ends of the cylinders when the pistons are advanced; a conduit connecting the crank cases and having an outlet cominunicating with the cylinder between the pistons; a valve controlling theoutlet; a driven member; means for connecting the pistons with the driven member; and means actuated by the driven member for operating the valve.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder; crank cases at the ends of the cylinder; pistons mounted to reciprocate 1n the cylinder, the cylinder being provlded adjacent its ends with intake and exhaust ports controlled by the pistons, the exhaust ports being opened when the pistons are retracted, and the intake ports being opened to establish communication with the crank cases byway of the ends of the cylinder when the pistons are advanced; a conduit-connectlng the crank cases and having an outlet communicating with the cylinder between the pistons; a valve controlling the outlet; a main shaft disposed parallel to the cylinder; means for supporting the main shaft for rotation; crank shafts disposed at approximately right angles to the cylinder and the main shaft; means for operatively connecting the crank shafts with the main shaft; pitmen connecting the crank shafts with the pistons; and means actuated by the main shaft for operating the valve.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a main shaft; means for supporting the main shaft for rotation; annular crank cases surrounding the main shaft; cylinders disposed about the main shaft, the cylinders extending between the crank cases and communicating therewith; pistons mounted to reciprocate in the cylinders, the cylinders being provided adjacent their ends with intake and exhaust ports controlled by the pistons,

the exhaust ports being opened when the pistons are retracted, and the intake ports being opened to establish communication with the crank cases by way of the ends of the cylinders when the pistons are advanced; conduits connecting the crank cases of the respective cylinders and having outlets communicating with the respective cylinders between the pistons thereof; valves controlling the outlets; means carried by the main shaft for actuating the valves; and means for operatively connecting the pistons with the main shaft.

4. In an internal combustion engine, casings; a main shaft journaled in the casings; annular crank cases surrounding the casing; cylinders disposed about the main shaft, the cylinders extending between the crank cases and communicating therewith; pistons mounted to reciprocate in the cylinders, the cylinders being provided adjacent their ends with intake and exhaust ports controlled by the pistons, the exhaust ports being opened when the pistons are retracted, and the intake ports being opened to establish communication with the crank cases by way of the ends of'the cylinders when the-pistons are advanced; conduits connecting the crank cases and having outlets communicating with the cylinders between the pistons; valves controlling the outlets; means for actuating the valves from the main shaft;

crank shafts journaled in the crank cases;

pitmen connecting the crank shafts with the pistons; and means located Within the casings for operatively connecting the crank shafts with the main shaft.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a, cylinder; crank cases at the ends of the cylinder; pistons mounted to reciprocate in the 40 cylinder, the cylinder being provided adjacent its ends with intake and exhaust ports controlled by the pistons, the exhaust ports being opened when the pistons are retracted, and the intake ports being opened to establish communication with the crank cases by way of the ends of the cylinders when vthe pistons are advanced; a conduit connecting the crank cases; a T interposed in the conduit and including a branch communicating with the cylinder between the pistons; a valve coacting with the inner end of the branch of the T and having a stem slidable in the, T; spring means for seating the valve; a shaft disposed parallel to the cylinder; means for driving the shaft from the pistons; and means operated by the shaft and coacting with the stem of the valve to open the valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NOVA B. ROBBINS. Witnesses:

C. B. HANSEN, FORD BARNES. 

